The Northliner

The picnic will be held Sunday, June 2.

Sunday services are held at 10:00 am. Currently our services are held live at UCN and also streamed on Zoom. Coffee hour follows the service. If UCN closes due to weather or building issues, the closing will be reflected on our website, on our office voice mail, and a special email will be sent out, if possible.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/93364454692?pwd=U29yanFGZTUvOXAvcWM0UWQ1UFU0QT09
Meeting ID: 933 6445 4692
Password: 13800

Services begin promptly at 10 am. If you'd like to join in conversation before the service, you may join the Zoom meeting at 9:50 and wrap up your conversations shortly before 10.

May 19: Intergenerational Flower Communion Service and UCN Annual Meeting,
Rev. Scott Alexander

Scott writes: On this special Spring Sunday we will – as an intergenerational community – share in the UU Flower Communion Service, and then (after a brief break so the youth and children can adjourn downstairs for additional programming) participate in the annual meeting of our congregation. The festive Flower communion ritual was originated in 1933 by Dr. Nobert Capek, founder of the modern Unitarian movement in Czechoslovakia, who was later killed at the concentration camp in Dachau because the Nazis believed him “too dangerous for the Reich to be allowed to live.” We will tell his moving story, and share in this hopeful ritual affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Each individual/family is asked to bring one flower per person to share in this communion.

Our UCN Choir will also enrich our ritual by sharing a special anthem.

May 26: "Rituals of Remembrance," Rev. Sarah Oelberg

This is Memorial Day weekend, when we remember those who are no longer with us, especially WWI veterans. I think of it more as what it was before it became so militarized and was called Decoration Day. I will give one example of a way to celebrate it that is dear to my heart, and look at what it could mean for how we celebrate our 6th Principle of "the goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all."

Sarah Oelberg has been a special education teacher, has written special ed. curriculum for our U.S. Office of Education, was a faculty member at Yeshiva University in New York and at NYU, and trained special ed. teachers in Iowa. She followed her heart as the first in her six-generation Unitarian family to become a UU minister. After serving churches in Nebraska and Minnesota, she retired in 2001. She and husband Gerald raised four children and have six grand- and four great-grandchildren.

Last Week's Sermon

Here's the link to read Rev. Scott's sermon on Social Capital: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UlKcKgB7GB9acH-yjzMuw9drqmxA80l2/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109072791973067277249&rtpof=true&sd=true

We are providing structured playtime after the intergenerational service this Sunday during the annual meeting. The children are welcome to join Jessy Knox, our RE coordinator, childcare staff Ben and Sara and volunteers downstairs at 10:30 am to approximately 12 noon. There will be group games, board games, arts and crafts, plus other activities.

The nursery will also be staffed during the annual meeting.

Outdoor Play

We may have the kids play outside after class or during the activity time. Please bring appropriate clothes for playing outside.

Come to the UCN Picnic on Sunday, June 2nd after the service! Please bring a dish to pass that could feed 8-10 people (finger foods are best) or a dessert, fresh veggie platter with dip, lemonade or other drink.

To keep this nice and simple, please also bring plates, silverware & anything else your family needs.

If the weather is nice, many people will opt for being outside, so if that's you, please bring lawn chairs. We'll also set up some tables in the Fellowship Hall.

If you can stay for a few minutes afterward to help clean up, that would be wonderful!

If you have any questions, contact Linda Sandersen at lsandersen@wi.rr.com.

See you there!

Carpenter bees were sighted in the playground area last Sunday.

They are not a threat to humans!

Like all living creatures, carpenter bees are part of the food web. They are a food source for birds and other predators. Eliminate them, and you’re destroying the fragile ecosystem of your yard and contributing to the alarming insect and bird decline going on now.

The PDF below will tell you a few fun facts about them.

Community Brainstorming Conference Breakfast Forum

Saturday, May 25 at St. Matthews CME, 2944 N. 9th St. Milwaukee

Breakfast: 8:00 - 8:45 am; Program: 9:00 - 11 am

Come help us bridge the gap by improving healthcare access. This is not just a goal, but an imperative. Join us in our mission to build a healthier, more equitable community for generations to come.

Panelists: Diannia Merriett - MICAH Health Equity Organizer; Melody McCurtis - Metcalfe Deputy Director; Josphine Webster - FREE Organizer; Bruce Gru - Poor People's Campaign Director; and Deanna Branch - Activist

Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue

Join us Wednesday, May 29 at 6 pm for a great conversation and a simple meal. Our hosts are Cudahy United Methodist Church, 5865 S Lake Dr. Cudahy, WI 53110.

People of all faiths and no faith, all spiritualities and theologies gather in small groups to share a meal and participate in a moderated discussion using a proven model, evoking deep exchanges about lived experiences and the role of faith and/or spirituality in their lives. Through exploration and dialogue, participants learn about the beliefs and traditions of others within an atmosphere of respect and understanding, and are empowered to stand as witnesses for tolerance and inclusion.

You are Invited to join the dialogue. Change your life. Change the world.

REGISTER AT THIS LINK

Upcoming Green Team Hike

Join us for our first Green Team hike of the year on Saturday, May 18!

We'll meet at 9:30 am at Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve parking lot.

Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve

511 High Bluff Dr., Grafton, WI 53024

There are portable toilets available. Our hike will take us along the Lake Michigan bluff, into the Lion's Den Gorge (many stairs but no lions -aka mountain lions- seen there in a long, long time), down onto the shoreline and then back up the massive and intricately placed staircase to where we began. Please contact Jessy Knox's cell 414-840-5377 with any questions and to RSVP if you can. Hope to see you there.

Singers and Singer Wannabes!

Rev. Scott requested that we prepare hymns (as a choir) for these upcoming services:

• 5/19/24: Flower Communion & Annual Meeting - #21 “For the Beauty of the Earth”
• 6/2/24: Guest John Corrado and Rev. Scott - #7 “The Leaf Unfurling” (music by John Corrado)
• 6/9/24: Intergenerational Summer Celebration - #38 “Morning has Broken” and/or #44 “We Sing of Golden Mornings"

I’m planning to rehearse with anyone that can make it at 9:15 before services on these dates: 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/9.

Hope to see many of you!

Gratefully,

Janet Jensen

Wedding Shower for Liam and Taylor

Let’s join together for a wedding shower on Saturday, June 1st, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, in the UCN Fellowship Hall for cake, snacks, drinks, and well wishes!

Please go to

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-wedding-shower-for-liam-and-taylor-tickets-893348388077

by May 26th for registry information and to R.S.V.P.

For more information, please contact Judy DeLillo judelillo2@gmail.com or Katie Egan-Bruhy egan.bruhy@gmail.com.

Good Grief Group

Grief Group will be held Wednesday, May 22 and June 5, at 10:00 am. After that we'll take a break over the summer months, coming back together in late August. If there are more urgent related needs during this interim, people are invited to contact any members of the PLCT or Rev. Scott.

Events at UCN

• "Qi Gong and Tai Chi" is held most Saturdays at 11 am in the Fellowship Hall. Call Diane at
  307-763-0903 for dates and details. First class is free for UCN members.
• Al-Anon meetings, offering recovery for families and friends of alcoholics and drug addicts, are held every Tuesday morning at 8:30 am in the Clara Barton room and online.
  

Thank you for supporting the groups that use our facilities.

Calendar through June 2

Meetings are held via Zoom, unless stated.

• Saturday, May 18, 9 am-3 pm: Scout Building Project - lower level (Brian Bunzel)
• Saturday, May 18, 9:30 am: Hike at Lion's Den (Jessy Knox)
• Sunday, May 19: RE Classes (Betsy Muellenbach)
• Sunday, May 19: Annual Congregational Meeting, after the abbreviated service
• Monday, May 20: UUs Coffee & Conversation - Mequon Fiddleheads (Brenda Berg)
• Tuesday, May 21, 7:00 pm: Finance (Pete Blain)
• Wednesday, May 22, 10:00 am: Good Grief Group (Judy DeLillo)
• Saturday, June 1, 9:00 am: Building Work Day
• Saturday, June 1, 10:00 am: FSL Setup - Fellowship Hall
• Saturday, June 1, 6:30 pm: Quackenbush Shower - Fellowship Hall
• Sunday, June 2, 11:30 am: UCN Picnic - Fellowship Hall and Outside

The monthly calendar for UCN events, not including rentals, can be seen on our website at: https://ucnorth.org/calendar/

Please remember to contact Lyn, info@ucnorth.org, to reserve rooms for your meetings, rehearsals, ceremonies, etc. To hold an event or ceremony at UCN, contact Lyn for date availability, facilities use forms, and answers to your questions.

All church committee meetings are open; visitors are welcome. Contact the committee chair (listed on the calendar above) for details or to receive the zoom info for a meeting. For information on classes and groups that meet at UCN, as well as future meeting and event dates, please see the website, www.ucnorth.org, or call the office, 262-375-3890.

Service and UUA Information

• Service Assistants are needed for Sunday Services. Please contact Julie Konik (julie.konik@gmail.com) if you can help.

• The Sunday Services Zoom Team is looking "for a few good zoom hosts." Please contact Gerry Schmitz or Dan Lusk if interested.
  

• Sunday Announcements: If you would like to have an announcement read at the service, please prepare it using the Spoken Announcement Guidelines, and send it to Joy Schroeder (peacenow@charter.net) or Julie Konik (julie.konik@gmail.com) or that Sunday's Service Assistant by the FRIDAY BEFORE the service, and they will relay it to the worship assistant.

• Reserving the Projector: If you will need the projector for a given date, please remember to sign the “Projector Reservation Signup List” on the clipboard on the table outside the office in the north lobby.
• UU Women's Connection offers retreats, newsletters and resources for women: https://www.uuwomensconnection.org/
• You are encouraged to subscribe to MidAmerica Region's newsletter, News page. More information at uua.org/midamerica .
• Join us June 20 - 23 for an all-virtual General Assembly 2024. For information, go to https://www.uua.org/ga/registration.

General Information

• Becoming a Member of UCN is very easy. Simply make a pledge of record, sign our Membership Book, and provide contact information for our records. We also provide New to UU and UCN Classes in the Spring and Fall. It is not necessary to attend the classes, however they are very informative, providing information about Unitarian Universalism and our church (its history and how it operates). For more information, you can contact Dan Lusk (262-234-9406).

• Rev. Scott will never ask you to buy a gift card for him. Please don't fall for these scams.

• Caring Circle: a group of people who may be willing to bring meals, help with transportation, make visits, pick up groceries, etc. for members and friends of UCN in temporary need. Sign up at church or virtually: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44ACA82BA75-caring

• First Aid Kits are located near the elevators on each level. Each kit is in a white box and mounted on the wall. AED Machines are near the first aid kits. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Bunzel, Building Committee Chair, at (262) 573-0045 or brianbuzel@yahoo.com.

• Are you or someone you know in need of help with basic food supplies? The Family Sharing food pantry is here when you need us. Our Mobile Pantry travels to locations in northern and southern Ozaukee. We also offer in-person shopping and deliver groceries to senior living complexes. Call us for more information. 262-377-0634 x125.

• UCN is now able to accept donations via PayPal.

• Food Barrel: Don’t forget to grab a food item out of your pantry for the food barrel as you leave for church. Donations go to the Ozaukee Food Alliance.
  

• Scrip Fundraiser: Scrip Cards are still a great way to support UCN. Use cards for carryout or online purchase with ScripNow!. There are 3 ways to buy or reload your cards: ScripNow! (Pay online, use online or in person), PrestoPay (buy or reload cards) or at UCN. If you have a special request or questions about Scrip, contact Mark Muellenbach. To sign up, use the code for UCN: 1F3EE5A9248LL

• If you order from Quill.com and tell them UCN recommended them, UCN will earn a $50 gift card.
  
  

• Support Black-Owned businesses: "MKE Black" offers a list of Black-owned businesses you can reference: https://mkeblack.org/

• If you would like to donate directly to Family Promise, the only shelter for homeless people in Ozaukee County, please send your donation to them, with “UCN Member” written in the memo line. This will give UCN credit for the donation. Their address is: Family Promise of Ozaukee County, 136 W. Grand Ave., Port Washington, WI 53074.

• The Social Justice Committee has an OPT-IN email list for anyone who would like to be notified on short notice to provide a physical presence at social justice activities. Please contact Sherryl Andrus, sherryla70@gmail.com, to be added to the list.

Monthly Fellowship Gatherings

• UUsOutToLunch meets on the first Wednesday of every month at noon, and sometimes at suppertime during daylight savings time. Couples, singles, men & women are all welcome, long-term commitment or not. Each month, a different member of the group takes the responsibility of choosing a restaurant at which to meet and eat, and emails the rest of the group with the particulars as to what and where, requesting yay or nay from the emailed recipient, so that reservations can be made if required. Join us! Email brendaberg@spectrum.net

• First Sunday Lunch: Join us after the service in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and fellowship on the first Sunday of the month, November through June.
  

• UUs Coffee & Conversation (Ladies' Lunch & Levity) meets on the third Monday of every month at Mequon Fiddleheads, 10530 Port Washington Rd. Stop in anytime between 12:00 and 1:30 for something to eat, a good cuppa, and chewy conversation. We meet in the back room.

Please submit articles for the Northliner to info@ucnorth.org. To keep the Northliner from becoming cumbersome to read, you are encouraged to keep these articles short, and to run them only twice. The deadline for submitting articles is every Thursday at noon. Items submitted later might not be proofed for errors or published.

Please contact Todd Zumach (zumacht@gmail.com) to submit articles for our website.

Minister, Rev. Scott Alexander: cell phone (preferred): 772-359-0602. Office phone: 262-375-4748. Email: UURevScott@gmail.com . Rev. Scott will generally be in the pulpit the first three Sundays of the month and in his office the first two weeks of the month.

Jessy Knox, RE Coordinator

Jessy can be contacted at REFPC@ucnorth.org or at 414-840-5377.

Wednesdays 10 am-3 pm: Office hours

Saturdays 10 am-1 pm: RE Prep (some of this time will be remote)

Sundays 8:30 am-12:30 pm: RE Sunday Time

UCN Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 2:30 pm. Contact Lyn at 262-375-3890 or info@ucnorth.org. The office is closed for holidays and bad weather. Please do not reply to the Northliner; we do not receive messages sent to lyngust@mailgun.smore.com, but if you are having trouble receiving the Northliner, please add that address to your contact list.

Links

• Information on our Share the Plate Recipient

For more information about UCN, see our website www.ucnorth.org or call the office at

262-375-3890.

Email: info@ucnorth.org
Website: www.ucnorth.org
Location: 13800 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon, WI, 53097 USA
Phone: 262-375-3890
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitarianChurchNorth/